Culture

Christmas tree

The tradition originated in Central Europe, particularly in Germany and Livonia (now Estonia and Latvia), during the Renaissance, with early records of decorated trees in the 16th century... The Catholic Church did not adopt the Christmas tree tradition until 1982 -- Brave AI.

Thanksgiving

The holiday generally revolves around giving thanks and the centerpiece of most celebrations is a Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends -- wikipedia.

Black Friday

"the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving Day that is considered by retailers to mark the beginning of the holiday shopping season" -- merriam-webster.

divorce

Ending a marriage agreement.

wedding

A marriage ceremony, especially considered as including the associated celebrations -- Oxford languages. Priority request.

social pressure

Includes rational argument and persuasion (informational influence), calls for conformity (normative influence), and direct forms of influence, such as demands, threats, or personal attacks on the one hand and promises of rewards or social approval on the other -- dictionary.apa.org.

The Black Swan, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

The Impact of the Highly Improbable.

bachelor / bachelorette party

Request: What is the level of these pre-wedding traditions?

right to an abortion

A way of understanding the conflict between pro-lifers and pro-choicers.

ChatGPT's effect on education

Request: I use it to help me break down technical problems. However, does ChatGPT have a negative effect on education and critical thinking in general?

LGBTQ+ flags, insignia at churches

With ostensibly inclusive symbolism, does its display support truth, a moral posture, and goodness? Or is it virtue signaling that actually undermines the mission and positive social impact of the church?

Western Civilization

Calibrated by Dr. Hawkins in 2008 at 270 (awareness, RSMM).

death penalty

Request: A legal sentence where the government kills someone convicted of certain crimes.

wabi-sabi philosophy

"the most conspicuous and characteristic feature of what we think of as traditional Japanese beauty." (wabi - beauty in simplicity, sabi-passage of time).

celebrating someone’s death

Request: In light of Charlie Kirk’s passing. I see people celebrating it on various social media platforms and it’s disturbing.